The new ECTS credit accumulation and transfer scheme, established for adaptation to the European Higher Education Area, entails changing from the old approach to a more student-centred learning approach, measuring the time students spend on study and encouraging independent learning and more active participation. Consequently, student workload includes the hours corresponding to attendance at lectures (theoretical and/or practical sessions), study, seminars, assignments, work experience or projects, and those required for the preparation and sitting of examinations and assessment tests. The aim of this research is to estimate the workload of a student in the third-year “Construction of non-structural elements” subject on the current Technical Architecture degree course (currently being phased out) and adapt it to the demands of the Building Engineering degree course. The descriptive and experimental methodology uses a survey-type tool to gather the data sought. The results obtained indicate the need for the length of course activities to be reconsidered so as to reduce student workload and adjust the time spent on activities to the established limits. The need is also detected to correct low class attendance so as to improve both teaching quality and academic results.

Sponsor:

This research is based on the findings of the Research Network on implementation of ECTS in the Technical Architecture subject "Building Non-Structural Elements", and was conducted within the context of the call for proposals issued by the "University Teaching Research Networks Project 2010-2011", supported by the Pro-Vice-Chancellor of Strategic Planning and Quality and the Institute of Education Sciences at the University of Alicante.